Bond Story of Virinia When Virinia arrived at Ryslen – seeming a bit nervous and more than a bit pregnant – the searcher Kerli sent her son Kelkerli, who, she was informed, was half-brother to the new Weyrleader Ke’l, to take her to see the healers, in case the trip would have done harm to her unborn child. Kelkerli, being a very good listener, had heard quite a bit about Xiorayith’s brood, and slyly led her towards their den. Surely that was where she needed to go most. When they arrived there, Kelkerli opened the door into the darkened room and gestured for Virinia to proceed him. Hey baby! Spiflyth trumpeted, and raced across the mostly empty room. Though that is what she said, what Virinia heard rather clearly in her mind was Hey! Baby!! The light green dragon skidded to a stop before the young woman and gingerly approached, treading on soft paws towards the very stationary Virinia. Spiflyth stood on her hind legs and lay her paw gently on the roundness where the baby was. Wow... then she looked up. I’ll help, Virinia, all I can, if you’d be my rider. Virinia stood very still, looking down at the dragon who had spoken to her in her head. Licking her lips nervously, she smiled and touched the paw that lay ever so gently on her belly. The baby had started kicking as soon as she’d seen the small dragoness, and Virinia couldn’t help but wonder why. With the contact, she was turning somersaults. "I’d...love to be your rider." Virinia heard herself saying, and shook her head, blinking in surprise. Spiflyth didn’t seem to see her surprise, as she was too busy studying Virinia's enlarged belly. "It'll be out soon enough, I hope." She said with a smile, reaching down to scratch Spiflyth on an itchy spot. Spiflyth arched her back and purred, and Virinia stifled a giggle behind her hand. "Now that you've bonded and all, do you think you can follow me up to see Healer M'lian?" Kelkerli asked, and Virinia turned to look at the boy. She hadn't even realized he was still there. "Of course. That is, if Spif can come." Virinia said, pleased that Spiflyth was happy with the shortened version of her name. "Not a problem. She's still pretty little." Kelkerli said with a nod, and Spif and Virinia followed him slowly, Spiflyth moving slow only because Virinia was. What is that pain in your back? Spiflyth asked when Virinia paused at the top of some stairs. Looking at the white green in surprise, Virinia opened her mouth to reply and groaned instead as something clamped down on her gut, stronger than anything she'd ever felt. Baby... she whimpered, and Spiflyth's eyes started whirling orange in concern. Snapping at Kelkerli when he knelt to help her, Spiflyth started scrambling. You need a healer! She suddenly decided, chasing Kelkerli down towards M'lian. The boy was already running, and Spiflyth would have followed, but Virinia cried out. "Please, Spif! Stay." She begged, and the hatchling was there for her to hold on to as the cramps tried to rip her apart. "Must have been the ride between. M'lian was suddenly there, helping her stand and walk towards a room. "It's too early!" Virinia told him, clutching the arm of his tunic and looking up at him with wild eyes. "We'll take care of it." He promised, and Virinia nodded and bit down on her lip as another contraction came on. You're awfully quiet. Virinia commented, laying down carefully on the proferred bed and reaching her hand out for Spiflyth to be by. You hurt. Spiflyth said, and would say nothing more. She crooned and warbled, even giving a tiny bellow when Virinia refused to scream. M'lian went scrambling for more help, and Virinia caught only enough to know that she was having the baby, ready or not. "Promise you'll stay." Virinia turned her head to look at the white green hatchling. Spiflyth only nodded her delicate muzzle in reply. Virinia didn't remember much of what followed. There was the horrible cramping in her gut, the sharp pains in her back, the tears and muffled screams, and two blessed things. Spiflyth, there sharing everything with her, and the tiny baby girl that came out of the whole process. "What will you name her?" M'lian asked when both Virinia and the baby were resting comfortably, besides the fact that Virinia felt like she had bathed in sweat and her hair was plastered to her face. "Esperanza." Virinia whispered, and M'lian and Spiflyth both smiled. She smiled back at them, holding the tiny baby close to her chest, and felt like her heart would burst. "I never thought I'd be so lucky." She confided to Spiflyth once all the healers and well-wishers had left. "I bond the smartest, brightest, most beautiful dragon I've ever laid eyes on, and I have the smallest, prettiest, more precious baby girl later the same day." It is nothing more than you deserve. Spiflyth finally said, very softly, crouching beside the bed and twisting her head to get a good look at the baby. "Thank you, Spif." She whispered, reaching out and hugging her bond to her side. So when do we get to go flying? And when do I get to find a mate? Virinia could only laugh and cry, and for the oddest reason, she felt like she'd be dong it for a good while. Virinia bonded at Ryslen